The 7 Steps To Effective Delegation

Effective delegation has many advantages for a manager and his/her staff

. It can prove to be a great opportunity to develop people and provide the manager with discretionary time to become more effective by focusing on things that are more important or strategic. Unfortunately most managers still regard delegation as a chance to dump stuff that they don't want to do on those around them or they are scared to do it so they do the job themselves.

Here are 7 steps that you can take to make your delegation more productive for you and the person you delegate to. The process does, of course, presuppose that you have people available to delegate to!

1. A key factor to successful delegation is to clearly define the task you are delegating and what is expected of them. Be clear about what a good job will look like when it's completed.

2. Identify the skills and attributes that the potential delegate would need to have to undertake the task. For example, what specific knowledge would they need to have (e.g. about the product, systems or processes), what skills would they need (perhaps with a bit of training) and what attitudes would they have to have? Now write these down under the three respective headings of knowledge, skills and attitude.

3. The next step is to identify all the people who could possibly be delegated with completing this task. Don't just think about the obvious ones. It is easy to delegate to the person who has least resistance and who never says "No" or the one who is the most eager to please you by taking on anything and everything they can. Easy perhaps, but not the most effective thing to do. Remember that inappropriate delegating can sometimes be construed as a form of aggression if the person you are delegating to lacks the tools to do the task and you are not helping them to develop.

4. Design a grid or use an Excel spreadsheet that has the required knowledge, skills and attitudes down the left hand side and the delegates' names or initials across the top. Now complete the grid by scoring each of the delegates on a rating from 1 being a total lack of it to 6 being someone who has that particular quality in abundance. Once you have done this you can total each delegate and the one with the highest score should, in theory, be the one to choose. But, there might be other considerations. Perhaps the most important other consideration is their real availability to undertake the task in question. If they are genuinely unable to take on what you need them to, you can go to the second best option.

5. Once you have decided on the most appropriate person you will then have to 'sell' them on the benefits for them in taking on the task. Don't forget the power of WIIFT - what's in it for them - when doing this. If they are busy already it might be that you have to take something from them and reallocate it to someone else within the team.

6. Once they have started the task don't forget to follow-up with them, offering encouragement and any assistance that they require. Be careful here because what you regard as being helpful they may see as interference and what you regard as empowerment might be regarded as abandonment.

7. Once they have satisfactorily completed the task, give them appropriate feedback and recognition.

The time necessary to go through the 7 steps obviously depends upon the particular task being delegated, but by following this framework your delegation will be more thought through and structured. It will also be received more positively by the person concerned if you can demonstrate why you have selected them and how taking the task on will be of benefit to them rather than just appearing to be dumping on them.

by: Ian Henderson

POST COMMENT

All The Things Sightseers Should Be Able To Know To Make A Highly Out Of This World All Inclusive Me Can Apple Cider Vinegar Cure Gout In The Foot? The Benefits Of A Colonic Cleansing Common Mistakes When Carrying Out Your Payroll Px90 Workout - Does The Px90 Workout Really Work? Bowing Or Cracking Masonry Block Walls Frontline Vs Advantix - Which Is The Best Choice for Flea Prevention? The Role Of Process Calibration Instruments First Lesson [For Tutors] Types of Deadbolt Locks The Easy Way To Tighten Pores Some key facts about Pea coat The Purpose Of Military Reconnaissance